Interleukin-13 interferes with activation-induced t-cell apoptosis by repressing p53 expression

Cell Mol Immunol. 2016 Sep;13(5):669-77. doi: 10.1038/cmi.2015.50. Epub 2015 Jul 20.

Abstract

The etiology and the underlying mechanism of CD4(+) T-cell polarization are unclear. This study sought to investigate the mechanism by which interleukin (IL)-13 prevents the activation-induced apoptosis of CD4(+) T cells. Here we report that CD4(+) T cells expressed IL-13 receptor α2 in the intestine of sensitized mice. IL-13 suppressed both the activation-induced apoptosis of CD4(+) T cells and the expression of p53 and FasL. Exposure to recombinant IL-13 inhibited activation-induced cell death (AICD) along with the expression of p53, caspase 3, and tumor necrosis factor-α in CD4(+) T cells. Administration of an anti-IL-13 antibody enhanced the effect of specific immunotherapy on allergic inflammation in the mouse intestine, enforced the expression of p53 in intestinal CD4(+) T cells, and enhanced the frequency of CD4(+) T-cell apoptosis upon challenge with specific antigens. In summary, blocking IL-13 enhances the therapeutic effect of antigen-specific immunotherapy by regulating apoptosis and thereby enforcing AICD in CD4(+) T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / metabolism
  • Apoptosis / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Death
  • Cell Polarity
  • Epitopes
  • Fas Ligand Protein / metabolism
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Immunotherapy
  • Interleukin-13 / metabolism*
  • Intestines / immunology
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Receptors, Interleukin-13 / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Epitopes
  • Fas Ligand Protein
  • Interleukin-13
  • Receptors, Interleukin-13
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein